JP3955816B2 - Foldable wheelbarrow - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible pushchair/carrier has wheels at the front and back. An upstanding spine extends between the rear wheels and handles. A lockable slider assembly can be moved up and down the spine. The front wheels are supported by wheel assemblies connected by pivotable support legs to the slider assembly. Beneath the slider assembly there are pivot joints linked to cranked support arms pivotably connected to the support legs. A foldable transverse strut extends between the front wheel assemblies. A seat is mounted to the ends of the arms remote from the pivot joints to the legs and the spine. The slider assembly can be moved between two operating positions. In one position, the pushchair is operative with the wheels defining a wheelbase between the front and rear wheels and front and rear wheel tracks between the front and rear wheels respectively. In the other position the pushchair is stowed and collapsed with the legs and arms alongside the spine and the front wheels within the rear wheel track. The now folded strut rests on a floor surface to support the stowed pushchair in an upstanding position. In moving between the stowed and operative positions the front wheel assemblies splay outwardly.

Description

[0001]
(Field of Invention)
The present invention relates to a wheelbarrow, particularly foldable wheelbarrow.
[0002]
(Background of the Invention)
Collapsible wheelbarrows are known. These wheelbarrows are generally divided into two categories. The first category is generally a wheelbarrow that only folds in two directions, while the track remains unchanged but the wheelbase becomes smaller when folded, and the second category is both the truck and wheelbase when folded. It is a wheelbarrow that can be folded in three directions so that becomes smaller. Although the second type of wheelbarrow is considered to be a smaller folded structure, this type of wheelbarrow is generally more complex and expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, these second type wheelbarrows are generally more difficult to fold and unfold. The present invention proposes an improved collapsible wheelbarrow. In particular, the present invention proposes a foldable handcart having a small folded structure and an uncomplicated structure.
[0003]
(Summary of Invention)
According to a first aspect of the invention, the seat, an elongated seat support means for supporting the seat, at least one substantially upright elongated spine, and after being supported via the axle at the lower end of the spine The seat support means is slidably and pivotally connected to the spine so that the seat support means extends away from the spine and is in an open state and a closed retracted state. The seat support means includes two support legs, each end of which is fitted with at least one front wheel, the other end of each of the support legs being slidable and pivotable to the spine. In the open state, the support legs extend from the spine toward the front wheels respectively attached thereto, and in the closed retracted state, the support legs and the spine are substantially In Becomes line or nearly parallel arrangement, the front wheel is adjacent to the rear wheels, wheeled foldable wheelbarrow is provided.
[0004]
According to another feature of the invention, there is an elongate support means slidably pivoted on at least one elongate spine, with wheels that are self-supporting and self-supporting in both the unfolded and closed states . A foldable wheelbarrow is provided.
[0005]
The wheelbarrow preferably further includes an auxiliary support means for supporting said elongated support means. The auxiliary support means is an elongated support means arm, and each support arm is preferably pivotally attached to the spine and associated leg. Pushcart may further include an elongate transverse member pivotably connected to the leg. This lateral member is foldable so that the wheelbarrow or carrier can be folded, and can act as a stand in the closed state to form a self-supporting structure. In an embodiment in which a front wheel is provided at the end of each support leg and a pair of rear wheels is provided at the end of the spine, the front wheel truck and the wheelbase of the wheelbarrow are closed compared to the unfolded state. It becomes small when it is in a wet state. The rear wheel track remains the same. The wheelbarrow may have a double spine structure.
[0006]
According to another feature of the invention, a first leg, two unfolded second legs, a spine, and a rigid seat are provided, the first leg being the second leg and the second leg. It is pivotally attached to the spine, and the seat is pivotally attached to the second leg and the spine, so that the legs are at an angle that separates from each other, and the spine is in an open state with an angle with respect to a vertical line. And a wheeled collapsible wheelbarrow adapted to be pivoted into a closed state in which the first leg, the second leg and the spine are in a substantially parallel arrangement. Provided.
[0007]
According to another feature of the invention, the front wheel has a seat supported by a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels or a single rear wheel, the front wheels having a larger track than the rear wheels, and the wheelbarrow is widened. The wheelbase of the wheelbarrow, which can be in a closed state or a closed state and is not a front wheel truck or rear wheel truck, is smaller when closed compared to when it is widened A collapsible wheelbarrow is provided.
[0008]
According to another feature of the invention, the collapsible wheelbarrow includes a generally upright column or spine, a slider assembly that is movable up and down along the column, a set of pivotable steering front wheels, Comprising at least one rear wheel supporting the column and a system of pivotable levers supporting the front wheel and linking the front wheel to the column and slider assembly, the column and the rear wheel maintaining their position, The front wheel can be moved by a lever system between the reinforced operating position that extends to the front outside of the column and the rear wheel and the retracted position inwardly and inwardly adjacent to the column. .
[0009]
Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of a wheelbarrow made according to the present invention that describes by way of example only.
[0010]
(Description of the preferred embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a collapsible wheelbarrow 10 in the unfolded state used to support and carry an infant or baby. The handcart 10 includes a pair of front wheels 12 and a pair of rear wheels 14, and has a wheel base W. One substantially upright column or spine 16 has a rear wheel 14 joined to a bar with a handle 20 at the other end through an axle 18 at one end. Each front wheel 12 is coupled to the spine 16 via a pivotable wheel assembly 22 and slanted elongated support legs 24. The wheel assembly 22 allows the wheel 12 to be steered. Each support leg 24 is slidably and pivotally coupled to the spine 16 via a slide assembly 26 and a pivot joint 28. The slide assembly 26 uses flat bearings to guide the assembly so that it slides up and down along the spine 16. The swing handle 30 is configured to hold the slide assembly 26 in a spread position through a releasable catch 32 on the swing handle 30 and a complementary protrusion 34 on the spine 16. . The swing handle 30 is pivotally attached to the slide assembly 26 via a pivot 36. Below the slide assembly 26 on the spine 16, two elongated crank-shaped support arms 38 are provided. One end of each support arm is pivotally attached to the spine 16 via a pivot joint 40. Each support arm 38 extends substantially horizontally at the first portion 38a and before tilting upward to support the seat 42 at the second portion 38b, one of the support legs 24 via the pivot joint 44. It is pivotally attached to. The seat 42 is also supported by the legs 24 and the spine 16.
[0011]
FIG. 2 shows a state in which the wheelbarrow 10 is opened from the front. FIG. 2 shows the relationship between two arms 38, two legs 24, and two sets of two wheels 12, 14. The slide assembly 26 is shown supporting the legs 24, which extend from one another and extend downward to join the wheel assembly 22 and the front wheel 12. Each arm 38 is shown to support an associated leg 24. Between the two wheel assemblies 22, an elongated transverse member or reinforcement strut 46 is bridged, which is attached via a pivot joint 50. This laterally foldable reinforcing strut 46 has a pivotable portion or center pivot 48. A catch assembly (not shown) maintains and locks the strut 46 in the illustrated stretched state . Thus, the struts 46 and legs 24 form a substantially triangular support frame of the unfolded wheelbarrow 10.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 2, the front wheels 12 are tilted to remain in contact with the ground below the associated wheel assembly. In another embodiment, a known double wheel structure is used. As can be seen from the figure, the front wheel 12 having the track F is further away from the rear wheel (track R).
[0013]
In the plan view of FIG. 3, triangular frames 24, 24 and 46 are shown. The alignment of the first portion 38a of the arm 38 associated with each leg 24 is also shown. The arrangement of the axles perpendicular to the pivot joints 44, 28 and 40 and each leg 24 and portion 38a is shown by a line passing through the pivot position (labeled X for pivots 28 and 40). The view shown in FIG. 3 along the axis A of FIG. 1 shows that the positions of the pivot joints 28, 40 are indicated by the same indication, but FIG. 1 shows their relative positions. ing.
[0014]
The second portion 38b of each arm 38 when viewed from above is angled inward to support the seat 42. In another embodiment, the free ends of the arm portions 38b are joined by lateral reinforcing struts similar to the struts 46. This reinforcing strut may be added to the reinforcing strut 46 or may be substituted.
[0015]
The wheelbarrow 10 is foldable, and FIG. 4 shows the wheelbarrow viewed from the side, folded for storage, ie, in a closed state. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the same state. Next, the folding process from the unfolded state (FIGS. 1 to 3) to the self-supported closed self-supporting (FIGS. 4 and 5) will be described.
[0016]
The catch mechanism of the catch assembly of the central pivot 48 of the lateral reinforcement strut 46 operates to free the pivot 48 and allow the two portions of the strut 46 to fold together. The slide assembly 26 is lifted up along the spine 16 via a swing handle 30 that is initially pivoted at a pivot joint 36 to be released from the protrusion 34. As the slide assembly 26 slides up along the spine 16, the legs 24 are folded inward, reducing both the wheelbase W and the track distance F. Reinforcing struts 46 are folded outward by pivoting movements at pivot joints 48 and 50. As the slide assembly 26 slides along the spine 16 to the uppermost position, the arm pivot joints 40 and 44 also pivot. During folding, due to the pivot angles of the pivot joints 44, 28 and 40, the leg 24 and the first portion 38a of the arm 38 are in a substantially parallel arrangement from an expanded position to a closed position (see FIGS. 4 and 5). ). At the same time, the reinforcing struts 46 are folded into a closed V shape (see FIG. 5), and work as a foot stand 52 in the closed state. The portion associated with the reinforcing strut 46, such as the portion of the catch assembly, can serve as part of the footstand 52 in another embodiment.
[0017]
FIG. 5 shows how the front wheel 12 is folded closed on both sides of the spine 16. The closed state itself is maintained by some kind of mechanism that can be placed in multiple positions.
[0018]
During the folding process, the distance of the rear wheel track R remains unchanged, but in another embodiment only one central rear wheel is used. In the embodiment to be described, a brake mechanism (not shown) is interlocked with the rear wheel 14.
[0019]
The unfolding process is almost the same as the folding process, but the reverse. The mechanism that maintains the closed state is released and the slide assembly 26 is guided downward along the spine 16. The arms and legs 38, 24 are widened and the lateral reinforcement struts 46 are widened and locked in a straight line. The slide assembly 26 is locked in the down position by a swing handle 30 that reengages the protrusion 34. Thus, the handcart 10 is ready for use.
[0020]
For example, the handlebar may be provided with a manual control lever or equivalent member that allows the catch mechanism and / or the swing handle 30 to be released by a cable.
[0021]
FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, but shows another embodiment having a double spine structure. The spine 16 of the main embodiment is replaced with two spine members 16a in this embodiment. The overall structure and folding process of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. However, FIG. 6 shows the difference between the two embodiments in the folded state when the front wheel 12a is folded into a position between the spine members 16a. A modified slide assembly 26 for sliding along the two spine members 16a is also shown.
[0022]
As will be seen later, the seat 42 is not a rigid structure but is made of a cloth-like material, which acts as a hammock-style seat in the unfolded state but folds in the closed state. Various man-made or natural materials can be used and the seat can be manufactured from various panels or supports. In one embodiment, the seat has a base made from a lattice material and allows side and back panels made from different materials to allow garbage to pass through and fall. In one embodiment, the wheelbarrow frame with spine, arms, legs and reinforcing struts is formed by extruding aluminum.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a wheelbarrow in an unfolded state.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment.
3 is a plan view of the first embodiment along the axis A in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the first embodiment in a closed state, that is, in a folded state.
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the first embodiment in a folded state.
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the second embodiment in a folded state.

Claims (12)

A seat (42), elongated seat support means (38, 24) for supporting the seat, at least one generally upright elongated spine (16), and supported at the lower end of the spine via an axle (18) The seat support means is slidably and pivotally connected to the spine, the seat support means extending away from the spine and open and closed retracted. The seat support means includes two support legs (24), and at least one front wheel (12) is attached to one end of each of the support legs, Each other end is slidably and pivotally connected to the spine, and in the open state, the support legs extend from the spine toward the front wheels respectively attached to the spine, and are in the closed retracted state. In the Jiashi portion and the spine is substantially parallel or substantially parallel arrangement, the front wheel is adjacent to the rear wheels, foldable wheelbarrow wheeled. The wheeled collapsible wheelbarrow according to claim 1, wherein the front wheels are spaced apart from each other . A foldable wheelbarrow with wheels according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support legs together with an elongated transverse member (46) constitute a triangular support frame . The wheeled collapsible wheelbarrow according to claim 1, wherein the front wheel track (F) decreases but the rear wheel track (R) does not change when in the closed retracted state from the open state . The foldable wheelbarrow with wheels according to claim 1, wherein the front wheel is in parallel with the rear wheel in the closed retracted state . 2. A foldable hand-held pusher with wheels according to claim 1, wherein the rear wheel track (R) does not change but the front wheel track and wheel base (W) decrease when going from the open to the closed retracted state. car. The foldable wheelbarrow with wheels according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising auxiliary support means (38) for supporting the support legs . The auxiliary support means consists of two elongated crank-shaped support arms, each of which is pivotally connected at one end to the spine and also pivotally connected to the associated support leg respectively. A foldable wheelbarrow with wheels according to claim 7 . An elongate transverse member (46) extending between and pivotally connected to the support legs, the transverse member having a catch assembly, the catch assembly being in the open state 9. With a wheel according to claim 1, wherein the support leg is reinforced by locking a pivotable part that allows the transverse member to be folded into the closed retracted state. Foldable wheelbarrow . 10. A foldable wheelbarrow with wheels according to claim 9, wherein the transverse member or the part attached thereto acts as a stand in the closed retracted state . The foldable wheelbarrow with wheels according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising two parallel spines . 12. A wheeled collapsible hand push according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the front wheel is supported on a wheel assembly (22) which is pivotable to allow steering in the open state. car.

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